The Alfa Romeo 158/159, also known as the Alfetta (Little Alfa Italian), is one of the greatest racing cars ever made success. The Alfa Romeo 158 and its derivative, the 159, had 47 wins against 54 major prizes. Originally developed for the pre-World War II, the formula for the purchase (1937) and has a 1.5 liter straight-8 supercharged. After the Second World War, the car was eligible for Formula One new feature introduced in 1947. In the hands of drivers like Nino Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio and Luigi Fagioli, who dominated the first two seasons of World Championship Formula One

The first version of this successful racing car, the Alfa Romeo 158, was carried out in 1937/1938. The primary responsibility for the design of Gioacchino Colombo.

The car's name refers to its 1.5-liter engine and eight cylinders. Voiturette class of racing cars from 1.5 liters, the same stand with regard to the principle of the "Grand Prix", the formula (usually a 3 liter engines) as the GP2 is Formula One today. Alfa Romeo 3-liter racing cars in 1938 and 1939 were the Type 308, 312 and 316

Alfa Romeo 158 made its debut with the Alfa Corse team is working with the Coppa Ciano junior in August 1938 in Livorno, Italy, where Emilio Villoresi took the first victory of the car. By the time 1479 cc engine produced about 200 hp (150 kW) at 7000 rpm. with the help of a single-stage Roots blower. More success came to Acerbo Coppa, Coppa Ciano and the Grand Prix of Tripoli in May 1940. Soon World War II stopped the development of the car for six years. After the war, the engine has been developed to bring out 254 hp (189 kW) in 1946.

In 1947, the Alfetta eligible for the new Formula One. The new rules allowed supercharged 1500 cc and 4500 cc aspirated engine. Alfa Romeo 158 has been changed again, this time to produce over 300 hp (220 kW) and has been hailed as the Alfa Romeo Tipo 158 / 47. The car makes debut in the tragic 1948 Grand Prix of Switzerland, where Achille Varzi has lost control of his car and was killed. Another loss for the team came in practice for the 1949 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, where Jean-Pierre Wimille was killed in an accident (driving Simca-Gordini).

The car has won all the races he has participated in 1950, it was incredible that a car had its inception in 1938, was so victorious. The team consisted of talented drivers such as Alfa Romeo Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio, the latter of whom went on to win the drivers' championship five times.

In the 1950 season, including an updated version known as the Alfa Romeo 159 has been produced.